CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 7, Issue 4 - 18

CFI TIPS

CFIS, DO YOU TEACH YOUR STUDENTS
TO USE A CHECKLIST IN EACH PHASE
OF FLIGHT? HAVE YOU OBSERVED YOUR
CERTIFICATED-PILOT CLIENTS USING
THE CHECKLIST AS A TO-DO LIST? I
THINK MOST CFIS WOULD SAY 'YES.' BUT
SHOULD THE CHECKLIST BE USED MORE
AS A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS?
Especially when at a low altitude, such as in the
traffic pattern, action should be taken only if it's
needed; not just because it's a checklist item. For
example, the following three accidents illustrate
what can happen after unnecessarily switching
fuel tanks in the pattern.
A private pilot ﬂying a Piper PA-28R with a ﬂight
instructor on board at 1,100 feet agl on the downwind

leg of the traffic pattern switched the fuel selector
valve from the right to the left fuel tank. The
engine sputtered so the CFI switched back to the
right tank, but the engine quit completely. The two
pilots were injured when they landed short of the
runway. There was an adequate amount of fuel in
both tanks, and it was conﬁrmed that the fuel was
not contaminated. The National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) could not determine the
reason for the loss of engine power, but it's clear
that switching the fuel tanks is the action that
started the chain of events.
The second accident involved a student pilot
and ﬂight instructor in a Piper PA-28-160. They
were on the downwind leg of the pattern when
the CFI asked the student to switch fuel tanks
to balance the remaining fuel. After doing so,

the student attempted to add power to adjust his
approach path, but the engine did not respond.
Switching back to the previous fuel tank
didn't restore power, so a forced landing was
completed. Fortunately, there were no injuries
to the two people on board.
During the previous ﬂight, the student had
mentioned that the fuel selector valve did not
have a noticeable detent position and had asked
the CFI if it was normal for the selector to rotate
360 degrees. This was an older fuel selector
valve and it was normal to be able to rotate
freely, although the CFI was not familiar with
the airplane and had not ﬂown it before the day
of the accident. The investigation turned up no
anomalies in the engine, fuel selector valve, or
fuel system, and due to the weather conditions,

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 7, Issue 4

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/flashcards_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/flashcards_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_201009
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com